GLADSTONE – The third game of the 2021-22 basketball season brought the first win of the season for the Gladstone Braves (1-2) boys basketball team as they defeated the Manistique Emeralds (0-2) 54-29 in Gladstone Thursday.

Aside from being the Braves’ first win of the season, it was also coach Colin Immel’s first as Braves head coach.

“It’s big,” Immel said. “It’s not only the first win as a Brave. It always feels good to get that first win under the belt but it’s a good one for these kids. They were looking for it, they fought for it, they earned it.

“The first couple games – maybe that first one we should have won, the second game was a tough one – but this game they earned it and they deserve it.”

The Braves were able to stifle the Emeralds early on, outscoring them 10-2 in the first quarter and never looking back.

Skylor Cayer – who had 10 points on the night – got the scoring going in the game for Gladstone with eight of those 10 first-quarter points.

While the Braves offense was rolling, Immel – who noted his focus on defense – was happy with the defensive play out of the Gladstone boys.

“Offensively, we were clicking tonight,” he said. “I’m a defense-minded coach. I always want to be great defensively. Offensively, we’re obviously going to have our struggled games. But, defense is what wins championships, and that’s part of our culture that I want to instill into Gladstone. Relentless energy and just be some dogs. And they were some dogs out there tonight.”

One moment that will go down as one of the most memorable for the season also took place late in the game as foreign exchange student Phoorinat Amornborirak – who also goes by J.O. – made a three-point shot, prompting a roar from a Gladstone crowd that had been periodically chanting “J.O.” since the moment he readied to enter the game.

“I want everybody to score every game, but obviously, that can’t happen,” Immel said. “So, to see him with the crowd getting into it chanting his name before he can even get into the game and then for him to knock down a shot – and almost another shot that is even deeper – was a cool moment, and it’s a moment that he will never forget.”

Kaden Gibbs, with a trio of triples, led the Braves with 13 points. He also had six assists.

For Emeralds coach Cody Kangas, the difference of the night laid in the energy brought and displayed by both teams and maybe some overconfidence from the Manistique squad.

“We watched a little bit of film on Gladstone, and I think our kids had a little bit of a big head coming in thinking they didn’t score much against Negaunee or they blew a lead against Ishpeming,” Kangas said. “I think they thought that we were going to come in and do some business. But, it just shows you have to play every game.

“… We didn’t play with any excitement or enthusiasm, and we talked about that at halftime. Any time we score it, ‘we scored, great.’ Any time they scored everybody’s jumping up and down on the floor, they’re jumping up and down on the bench. So, the excitement and energy is a big difference for us.”

Parker Graphos led the team with eight points, while Bryce Blixt had five.

With a game today against Gwinn today in Manistique, Kangas hopes a quick turnaround can help clear the minds of the Emeralds and put them back on track.

The Braves have an extended break and will wait until Dec. 28 to play the Escanaba Eskymos in a rivalry matchup.

Manistique 2 7 11 9 – 29

Gladstone 10 14 14 16 – 54

Manistique – Graphos 8, Blixt 5, Mersnick 4, Zellar 3, Dougherty 3, Demers 2, Bergey 2, Flodin 2; FT: 5-11: Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Blixt, Mersnick.

Gladstone – Gibbs 13, Cayer 10, Downey 8, Vitito 5, Johnson 4, Amornborirak 3, Roman 3, Howard 2, Dale 2, Hughes 2, Eilola 2; FT: 6-6; Fouled out: None; 3-point fields goals: Gibbs 3, Downey 2, Amornborirak, Vitito, Roman